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Is a puppy right for you?
Who cares how much that doggie is in the window, it's too cute not to buy. But what are you getting yourself into by buying a puppy? It may not be as much work as taking care of a baby, but for the first few months of a puppy's life, it does become pretty close. Young puppies need to have a close eye kept on them all the time to keep them out of trouble, and to get them trained. Ask our professional staff about the different resources available to help you train your puppy so that you and your puppy will have a happy relationship for many years to come.

Shop till you drop
When buying a puppy, you will need certain supplies. These include: water bowl, food bowl, puppy food, food mat or tray, brushes and combs as needed, appropriate collar and leash, cleaning supplies specifically made for puppy accidents and for odor removal, a crate for housing, washable dog blankets, and a number of toys that can be alternated to prevent boredom.

Chew on this
Puppies love to play and chew on many types of things. Teaching the puppy what is okay to chew on and what is not is made a lot easier by getting the puppy some specific types of toys. These should include a soft latex toy, a rubber toy, a rope or cloth toy, and a hard toy good for teething. Ask our trained staff what toys they recommend. Remember to never give a puppy anything like an old shoe because they will not be able to tell the difference between and old shoe and a new one, and that would not be their fault! If you catch them chewing on something they should not be chewing on take the item away while saying no in a firm but not loud voice, and then give them something they can chew on. If you catch them chewing on something that they should be chewing on, then give them lots of praise.

Give me some proof
As someone with a toddler must childproof their home, someone with a new puppy must puppy proof theirs, especially since puppies can go almost everywhere right away. In fact, it is best not to let your new puppy roam freely around a large area but to keep them in a small one or with you at the end of a four to six foot leash at all times. Not only does this keep them out of trouble, but then when you see them act like they have to go to the bathroom, you can lead them outside right away and prevent accidents from occurring indoors. Be sure that there is nothing they can get into like cleaners, medications, chemicals, poisonous plants, electric cords, chocolate, and small objects. Like kids, if it fits in their mouth they may eat it. Prevention is always better than the cure.

Crate Training
Puppy owners sometimes feel they do not want to use a crate because they don't want to cage their puppy, but puppies don't think of a crate as a cage. To them, the crate becomes their den, a safe and secure place for them. The crate should only be large enough for a puppy to turn around and lie down comfortably in. It should have something soft to lay on like a dog blanket that fills the available floor space. A toy that is only offered when the puppy is in the crate is a good idea, and even a small treat can be given to entice the puppy into the crate the first few times before it gets to know the crate as its home. Also use a command like "Crate" so they will learn to go in on command. The crate should never be large enough that the puppy can go to the bathroom at one end and still sleep in the other. This will defeat the purpose of crate training. The point of crate training is that a puppy does not want to soil the area that it must sleep in, so it will try hard not to go to the bathroom in its own crate. Most young puppies can only hold it for three or four hours before they have to go outside. As long as your puppy is not kept in the crate for too long you will both be happy with the arrangement. Most young puppies can only hold it for three or four hours before they have to go outside. As long as your puppy is not kept in the crate for too long you will both be happy with the arrangement.

What, more homework?
One of the most important thing to remember with a new puppy is to be patient. Everything for them is new as well as for you, and they are eager to please. You must learn how to work with them and train them properly. One of the best ways to do this is to join a puppy obedience training class where your puppy can also meet other puppies and people, a very important step in socializing your new puppy. Find out when and where puppy classes start in your area and get started as soon as possible.